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Robotic 'Pack Mule' with Impressive Reflexes
moon_monkey writes "New Scientist has a story about a nimble, four-legged robot that can recover its balance even after being given a hefty kick." From the article: "The project is sponsored by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), who want the robotic pack mule to assist soldiers in terrain too tough for vehicles. Ground-based soldiers often need to carry 40 kilograms of equipment. Raibert says the latest version of BigDog can handle slopes of 35 - a steeper gradient than one in two. The hydraulics are driven by a two-stroke single-cylinder petrol engine, and it can carry over 40 kg, about 30% of its bodyweight. The robot can follow a simple path on its own, or can be remotely controlled."
Well for one... nobody can get a multimillion dollar contract to develop a live mule.
Nice robodonkey.
WHERE'S OSAMA?
--
make install -not war
Don't bother having it mine for crystite in the river valley, remember to have it make enough energy to power itself and the rest of your empire, and make sure to take care when installing it so it doesn't run off....
I'd love to be the guy whose job it is to kick the multimillion dollar piece of equipment to see if i can knock it over.
But when your mule dies in the bitter cold of the ice planet Hoth, you can slice it open with your lightsaber and shove your semi-conscious friend inside to keep warm while you build a proper shelter.
Web 2.0 == Giant Blogspam Circle Jerk
Impressive sense of balance (the second kick in the video where it uses an almost simian method to get it's feet back under it is amazing). That's quite a step forward for robotics, though it's not particularly practical as a pack-mule alternative *yet*.
However, that thing desperately needs a muffler--is anybody else having flashbacks to "Dumb and Dumber"?
"Hey, you guys want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?"
I hear that if you spray chemicals on the mule, it becomes a synthetic mule and you can get a tax break.
That's no Mule.
That's an AT-AT.
"Mules eat plants and grasses found naturally in the area."
And our solders can eat the mule. I'll bet the robotic one doesn't taste good even with barbecue sauce.
The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
Man, that just gave me the best idea ever. Chuck Norris vs. Asimo. This Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, at the Arco Arena; buy your tickets now!
They created us to carry their burden, and it was good .....
Then they kicked us, and it started...
God created man in his own image, but somehow he evolved into a hairless monkey.
A few of the brothers in the Pack Animals Union chapter 107 would like a word with you, Mister "I-can-see-a-whole-lot-of-applications-where-a-liv e-animal-wouldn't-be-as-useful."
a - an engine can be turned off at will, and a mule cannot.
Yes it can. The hard part is switching it on again.
-- Cheers!
It's not only useful, it's WHISPER-QUIET!!!
It's the Luggage from Discworld! RUN!